Best Collection of the Season: Valentino

Valentino FW2013 Cover Final

Let me show you my favourite collection for the new season: VALENTINO. Watching this runway show in Paris along with celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Nicole Richie, my heart was beating faster and I was thinking: those pieces have to find a way into my closet!

Valentino FW2013-Runway

Inspired by the paintings of Flemish Old Masters (Vermeer in particular), Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli‘s latest collection is absolutely exquisite.

Of course, punk is the trend of the season, but my heart beats for those little white collars and the amazing feminine dresses. The outstanding embellishments are blended with materials: carpet textures, embroidery inspired by Delft ceramics, and chiné and jacquard motifs that reproduce them on knitwear.

Valentino Noir

And to live my grunge moment, I will invest in the famed rockstud accessories to match.

Valentino-FW13-02

Valentino’s ad campaign for F/W 2013 was shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and shows how fashion meets art in perfection: striking portraits set against ornate still life images of flowers, food and accessories.

sandra bauknecht, maria grazia chiuri and pier paolo piccioli

Framed by the lovely designer duo, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli.

I was so happy to visit the Valentino showroom the next day after the show to explore this amazing collection up close. The moment I saw and felt the details, the outstanding craftsmanship and beautiful designs, I have been even more in love with the collection, if that is anyway possible… Great news is that most of the pieces are hitting the stores now.

To shop, just click on the highlighted text below! Have fun!

LoL, Sandra

Valentino 1

Valentino Black Dress FW2013

Leather-trimmed wool-blend dress icon

Valentino 2

Valentino Tapestry Dress FW2013

Tapestry-lace mini dress icon

Valentino 3

Valentino Sweater FW2013

Beaded tulle-detailed wool and cashmere-blend sweater icon

Valentino 4

Valentino Dress FW2013

Intarsia stretch-knit dress icon

Valentino 6

Embroidered plastron bonded nappa leather dress icon

Valentino Coat FW2013

Scalloped wool and silk-blend coat icon

Valentino 8

Valentino Dress white FW2013

Beaded tulle and wool-blend crepe mini dress icon

Valentino 9

Valentino Runway Pumps FW2013

Patent-leather and velvet T-bar pumps icon

Valentino 10

Valentino FW2013 Shoes Runway

Patent-leather and velvet T-bar pumps icon

Valentino 11

Valentino 12

Valentino Rockstud Mink

Rockstud mink and leather clutch icon

Valentino Rockstud 3

Valentino Rockstud FW 2013

Valentino Rockstud Bag FW2013

The Rockstud leather trapeze bag icon

Valentino Rockstud Rouge

Rockstud Rouge Leather Pumps

Rockstud Rouge pumps

Rockstud Rouge
Runway and ad campaign photos: Courtesy of Valentino, all other photosicon: © Sandra Bauknecht

The Nun’s Story

This fall, designers might have to ask for forgiveness after their fashion blasphemy on the F/W 2010 runways. So many collections evoked religion. It was hard not to think episcopally when looking at all those nun-, priest- and church-inspired looks.
Wimplelike head coverings, white collars, shoulder-covering capes, black and white combined colour combinations, and modest long skirts gave a strong impression of a Catholic convent. The long single chain necklaces brought up the image of a rosary and the drawstring belts reminded of a monk`s habit. Most designers added a goth spice to it. But see for yourself:


Take the religious symbolism with humour and not too seriously. Fashion is sometimes playing dress-up and that can be a lot of fun. So who wants to be the next sister Luke?
Audrey Hepburn looked so beautifully in The Nun`s Story 1959 and so can you. Have faith in yourself and come up with your own fashion bible! Even if it is just a cross pendant…

Your heavenly followers will gather around you.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands